Washington Cigar Lounge Bill Dies Again

Cigar smokers in Washington state hoping to light up in their favorite store or a dedicated lounge will have to wait for at least another year, as a piece of legislation has effectively died at the hands of a familiar foe.

H.B. 1919 was introduced by 15 legislators who co-sponsored the bill, and sought to create a path for cigar lounges to become licensed to allow smoking indoors. Currently, smoking is not only prohibited with a cigar store, it is also prohibited within 25 feet of a doorway, window or ventilation system to a building, which forces smokers outside or to lounges on tribal reservations.

After the bill passed the House Business & Financial Services Committee on Feb. 14, it was referred to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee and its chairwoman, Rep. Eileen Cody, D-34. Cody is a longtime nurse and vehement opponent to any legislation seen as being in support of tobacco, so much so that she refused to hear the bill, let alone call for a vote, in either the regular session of the legislature or any of its three extra sessions.

Cigar lounges and bars would have to meet a fairly strict set of requirements regarding air turnover, employee regulations and liquor licensing, but the rules were crafted with the contribution of the Cigar Association of Washington, which felt that they were more than reasonable for cigar stores to comply with.

Additionally, the total number of cigar store licenses would be capped at 75 for the entire state, while cigar lounges would be capped at 40.

This was the fourth time that a bill of this nature has been introduced into the legislature, with previous attempts all dying in committee hearings. However, the bill will be back next session according to Joe Arundel, president of the Cigar Association of Washington and owner of Rain City Cigars in Seattle.

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the Spring Training public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies, PA announcer for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, and PA announcer for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. I'm also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice talent and writer, among other things. I previously covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.

CigarStateofTexas

So sad for our cigar buddies in Washington. One day freedom will be cool again in Washington state, not just for fans of combustible marijuana, which BTW can trigger psychosis and schizophrenia in some people, but in spite of that is apparently fully OK in the eyes of social engineers like Eileen Cody…God forbid you’d like to enjoy a premium cigar, though.

Mike

The smoking ban in Washington was overwhelmingly passed by voters and was the first one to be written with no exemptions. This was years after the state legislature refused to enact a smoking ban.

While there are plenty of lawmakers in both parties who support allowing smoking in cigar shops and reintroducing cigar bars to the evergreen state, overcoming opponents who cry “the will of voters is no smoking anywhere” is very, very difficult. That probably won’y change anytime soon. But they did get a 65-cent cigar tax cap passed, so it’s possible if they’re persistent.

The marijuana legalization law was also approved by voters, not lawmakers like Cody, so you can’t blame her for that one.

Andrew Murphy

Smoking is a sick cause and scourge against lower classes it targets to make sick. You rarely see educated people smoke.

http://www.halfwheel.com Patrick Lagreid

I highly disagree, at least when it comes to premium cigars. Adults from all walks of life enjoy premium cigars as a way to relax and socialize. Plenty of educated adults smoke premium cigars.